Douglas Carswell MP: Worrying state of the economy

Worrying state of the economy

Two of the best bits of analysis I've read about this government's appalling handing of the economy are Norman Lamont writing here and Philip Johnston a couple of days back here.

Forget BBC Robert Peston's pedestrian commentary. At times he seems to read more as a justificiation of the government's management of the nation's finances, than a critical analysis of it. Lamont and Johnston's first-rate writing instead sum things up.

Posted on 10 December 2009 by Douglas Carswell

Comments

I read Johnston's comments as equally a critique of Tories' attitudes and proposals as Labour's. Both parties are committed to the big-spending post-war consensus. Now if the Tories were to propose getting rid of the NHS, or leaving schools to run themselves without any state involvement (except for basic checks on standards), or to slash welfare, then we could believe they were serious about reducing public debt and at the same time finding market solutions to problems the state has made only worse by its relentless involvement.

But 'efficiency savings' and the replacement of a few quangos with a few others are never going to do other than scratch the surface of the terrible debt the Labour government has coontrived to get us into.

Posted on 10 December 2009 11:48 by Shakassoc

This is a far better critique of the PBR from the FT/ Bank Paris Bas

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/12/10/88066/alistair-in-wonderland-believes-in-santa-claus-bnp-paribas-says/

Posted on 10 December 2009 14:26 by libertarian

The BBC do not like to be too critical of Labour. If you compare how they treat the Conservatives, its chalk and cheese.

Posted on 10 December 2009 15:38 by Johnny Norfolk

It could all be far far worse than that.

http://the-tap.blogspot.com/2009/12/where-has-all-money-gone.html

Posted on 12 December 2009 03:42 by Tapestry

And, let me add, Irwin Seltzer in the Spectator. Quite outstanding. John Redwood's blog, too, is excellent.

Posted on 12 December 2009 09:47 by Mike Stallard